News

Manager Gary Norton was visibly shocked, angry and upset after what can only be described as a shambolic 90 minute performance from start to finish by his side in the 5-0 defeat at Carlton Town on Wednesday night. A result that no one, including the home side, could have predicted beforehand.

Norton will be looking for his team to stand up and be counted against Frickley in a bid to move on from that result but has two very challenging games this week in Frickley and Stamford standing in his way - a fact Norton is actually relishing.

He said, “after the game on Wednesday the first thing I felt I needed to do in my post match interview was to apologise to our supporters, especially those who were at the game. We were simply shocking from start to finish and although I take overall responsibility for the performance I really need the players who started the game to take a long hard look at themselves, and how they prepared for the game, especially those experienced at this level. I told the lads after the game I was as embarrassed as I’d ever been in 20 years connected with the club or indeed football and will be taking steps to ensure that level of performance doesn’t happen again. There are not many games I’ve ever witnessed at any level of the game where a team can take zero positives over 90 minutes but Wednesday night was most definitely that game. In fact we were lucky to get nil in the end!!"

He added, “we have two very tough home games coming up against good sides who made the play-offs last season and in some ways that’s just what we need to get a big reaction. If we play anywhere near that level we saw at Carlton against Frickley or Stamford we will get beaten very heavily again and I am looking forward to seeing how the lads react to Wednesday night's shocker. There’s no room for passengers in our squad and we have to sort out quickly those that want to battle for the club and pride in the shirt for every minute of every game from those who can’t or won’t and that’s where our focus will be over this next week.”

Squad wise the news is not good with Burton Albion loan Goalkeeper Jack Livesey ruled out with a back injury picked up during the Carlton game. Norton is also without the unavailable Kane Jellyman and will also need to check on the fitness of Kane Lee and Lucas Harrison who both limped off with injuries on Wednesday night. First team player/ coach Jamie Barrett should return after missing midweek with a virus but player of the month for August Dexter Morris Clarke (knee) will miss out as will defender Matt Roome as his recovery from an ankle injury continues.

Norton has called young keeper Ben Allsop back from loan at neighbours Stapenhill and also defender Jake McIntosh. Reserve team player Harry Landsdowne is also included in the 16.